When the medicinal liquid completely turned to clear water, Zhou Shu emerged from retreat.
With over twenty days remaining before the Heyin Sect could accept new members, Zhou Shu decided not to waste them and headed to Sanyuanzhai.
Hua Ruoan had gathered nearly twenty more bottles of talisman ink and, upon seeing Zhou Shu, he hurriedly handed them over.
Zhou Shu spent over ten days crafting the entire talisman into a swamp talisman.
Surprisingly, Hua Ruoan didn't try to get away with it this time, honestly giving Zhou Shu two hundred mid-grade spirit stones.
"Hey, Shopkeeper Hua, why have you changed your mind this time?"
Zhou Shu quipped with a smile.
Hua Ruoan feigned anger. "What do you mean by change? I've always been fair. What's yours is yours. Ten last time, two hundred this time—that makes sense."
In reality, the swamp talismans were selling so well that the price of a mid-grade one had risen to thirty-three mid-grade spirit stones. With the increased profit, he gave Zhou Shu a rare bit more.
Zhou Shu smiled, unconcerned, and turned back to the Yan family shop.
"Senior sister, six hundred hydrotherapy talismans, the result of more than two months' work."
Yan Yue frowned and said somewhat displeasedly, "Junior brother, you are working too hard. It's not good. You are about to enter the sect. You should have a good rest."
Zhou Shu smiled faintly, "It's okay, I can handle it. Sell these talismans as fine products. A little more expensive, a little slower, it should last for a while."
"I have some plans. Junior brother, take care of yourself and don't worry about here."
Yan Yue looked at Zhou Shu with some tenderness in her eyes, "Junior brother, you will go to enter the sect the day after tomorrow. It's a pity that I can't go with you because I have a mission. I have talked to Uncle Wang who is in charge of recruiting new disciples. He will let you enter the sect directly without taking the test."
"I'm sorry to trouble you, senior sister."
Zhou Shu smiled and nodded, "By the way, if you take a test, what test will it be?"
"Self-cultivators are different from ordinary people, and the entrance exams are different too. The ones for self-cultivators are quite difficult..." Yan Yue recalled her own past experiences, still feeling a bit apprehensive. "There are three levels of testing, and it goes something like this..."
She explained it carefully, then said with a sense of relief, "Fortunately, Junior Brother doesn't have to take them. Otherwise, I'd be really worried about your health."
She glanced at Zhou Shu, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of her brows.
Zhou Shu was sixteen years old at the time. While not thin, he was by no means strong either. His hands, exposed from his sleeves, were as white as jade, making him look more like a scholar than a cultivator.
"I understand, Senior Sister. I'll be leaving now."
Zhou Shu waved at Yan Yue. "Next time we meet, it'll be at the Heyin Sect."
"Yes!"
Yan Yue nodded vigorously, her face beaming with joy.
Two days later, they were standing in front of a vast mountain shrouded in mist.
The mountain's shape was strange, as if it had been cut in two, horizontally and vertically. Halfway up the mountain, a large platform lay.
The platform was suspended on three sides, with one side touching the mountain wall. The floor was paved with smooth, blue bricks, resembling a mirror from afar.
By then, a large crowd—roughly a thousand, at first glance—was already filling the platform, occupying only one corner.
Most of the testers were new to such a place, and they chatted and chattered nonstop.
Zhou Shu, standing alone in a corner, contemplated the massive stone pillar before him.
Reaching a full five feet thick and towering to an incalculable height, it pierced the sky like a sharp sword.
Its hue was as black as ink, and the characters "Testing Immortal Platform" were inscribed upon it. The few strokes conveyed a profound and profound meaning, as if imbued with profound truths, giving the impression that contemplating it would lead to enlightenment.
Wisps of smoke flickered between the inscriptions, adding a touch of mystery.
Zhou Shu, a master of calligraphy and painting, couldn't help but admire the inscription in his heart. Just from looking at these few words, he knew the Heyin School was truly formidable, worthy of being one of the five great sects of the Qingyuan Mountains.
Dang—
a solemn and melodious bell rang out from the clouds.
Everyone was startled by the sound, their minds shifting as they turned their gazes.
On the Immortal Test Platform, a black platform, approximately twenty feet square, had appeared out of nowhere. It hovered in mid -air
, shrouded in clouds and mist, resembling a fairyland. A mountain breeze swept the mist aside.
Looking up, dozens of cultivators stood dimly on the platform, their demeanors solemn, each radiating a multicolored light, faint yet lingering, like immortals and Buddhas,
drawing the gaze upward. Many testers stared at each other, their astonishment forgotten, their involuntary bows falling.
Zhou Shu smiled faintly. The Heyin Sect's display was clearly intended for mortals, to inspire admiration and strengthen their resolve towards the Dao. A casual cultivator like Zhou Shu could easily discern that the soft glow was merely a simple deception, nothing surprising.
A dignified elder emerged from the platform and announced, "Since you're here, you should know the rules. Without further ado, the testing begins!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the crowd erupted in jubilation, many eyes gleaming with enthusiasm, each convinced they could become a cultivator.
The Heyin cultivators descended from the platform one by one, each taking up their respective roles.
Soon, the test-takers on the Immortal Trial Platform split into two groups: one consisting of mortals, numbering over a thousand, and the other consisting of independent cultivators, numbering only a dozen or so.
The elder glanced over the crowd, a hint of surprise in his eyes. "Hmm, this group of mortals seems quite interesting. Perhaps we can discover a few promising talents."
He glanced around. "Yun Li, take Sun Hedao and take charge of the independent cultivator testing. Let them go to Lingyun Cliff. I'll handle the testing here myself."
Larger sects like the Heyin Sect generally prioritize qualified mortals, believing that the cultivators they cultivate themselves are the best, while independent cultivators are less valued.
A stern-looking cultivator in a blue robe came over and bowed, saying, "Yes, Uncle Wang!"
"By the way, there's a free cultivator named Zhou Shu who was recommended by an inner disciple of our sect. He doesn't need to take the test and can directly enter the outer sect."
The old man added another sentence and waved his sleeve to let him go.
After receiving the order, Yun Li walked straight towards the direction of the independent cultivators.
Sun Hedao, who had not seen him for a long time, hurriedly followed Yun Li with a look of smug joy on his face.
He looked at Zhou Shu, who was standing among the independent cultivators, and felt secretly happy. "You are here after all. It is worth my effort to exchange tasks! This time you are in my hands, I will let you see the consequences of offending me. If you want to enter the sect, there is no way!"
He had always been resentful about what happened last time. After apologizing to Sanyuanzhai, he not only did not forget it, but became even more resentful. He had no way to deal with Qingxia Market, so he transferred all his anger to Zhou Shu.
This time, when he learned that Zhou Shu was coming to enter the sect, he specially spent spirit stones to exchange tasks with others to take on the job of testing newcomers, hoping to stop Zhou Shu.
Zhou Shu seemed to sense something and suddenly looked in this direction.
The two looked at each other, both stunned, with different expressions.
Sun Hedao stared at Zhou Shu, his lips twitching slightly, a hint of ferocity mingled with his ecstasy.
Zhou Shu shook his head, his surprise fleeting, then quickly regained composure.
He hadn't expected Sun Hedao to be so narrow-minded, still brooding on her after nearly a year. But he was prepared and unfazed.
It wasn't a big deal; it might even be a good thing.